Lost in beautiful lotus valley in Hanoi’s suburb

An Phu commune is in southwest part of My Duc district, about 50km from Hanoi downtown. Thousands of lotus flowers come into full bloom every morning, spreading a fragrant aroma in the atmosphere. The scenery is beautiful thanks not only to the fragrant lotus flowers but also the limestone mountains, creating a charming landscape. Typically, the lotus season starts late May and lasts until early September, depending on the region. They are said to be at their beautiful best in June and in September, as autumn knocks on the door. Lotus flowers play an important role and special position in both Vietnamese spirit and culture. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A lotus pond under the sunlight at dawn. In the immense green colour of the leaves, lotus flowers grow from the mud to show off their vibrant scent, adorning a beautiful poetic moment in the whole sky. Typically, the lotus season starts late May and lasts until early September, depending on the region. They are said to be at their beautiful best in June and in September, as autumn knocks on the door. To Vietnamese people, the lotus is more than just a flower. Lotus flower, despite being nurtured in mud, still grow out pure and glowing, like morning dew from early morning or water in springtime. It is also the symbol of purity, commitment and optimism for the future. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Lotus flowers spreading their wings and blossoming with their distinct fragrance. Each blooming flower features a diameter of up to 30cm, which appears charming to flower enthusiasts due to the unique thick layers of petals being situated close together. Typically, the lotus season starts late May and lasts until early September, depending on the region. They are said to be at their beautiful best in June and in September, as autumn knocks on the door. Lotus flowers play an important role and special position in both Vietnamese spirit and culture. The flowers are usually used to decorate houses and food, the root can be used in various dishes while its stamen can be used to make tea and the seeds can be used to make desserts or herbal medicines. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Morning dew on a lotus flower. The lotus flower is known as the flower of the dawn, and for many Vietnamese people, the sight of lotus flowers is the symbol of purity, commitment and optimism for the future. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater and rises and opens again at dawn. The lotus is found throughout Vietnam in the muddy water of lakes and ponds. The elegance of the lotus flower is often cited in the Vietnamese folk songs and poems. Besides, lotus is an important ingredient in Vietnamese culture and every part is utilised in both cuisine and medicine. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

In the midst of pink lotus flowers in the lotus pond, there are lotus flowers with pink and white colours in the sunlight at dawn. Thousands of lotus flowers come into full bloom every morning, spreading a fragrant aroma in the atmosphere. The lotus is found throughout Vietnam in the muddy water of lakes and ponds. Lotus flowers play an important role and special position in both Vietnamese spirit and culture. The lotus stands for beauty in Vietnam. It reaches through the mud and grime to show off its colour and shape to the world. These blossoms have long been linked to Buddhism, nobility, and pure thoughts. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Thousands of lotus flowers come into full bloom every morning, spreading a fragrant aroma in the atmosphere. The lotus stands for beauty in Vietnam. It reaches through the mud and grime to show off its colour and shape to the world. In Vietnam, pink lotus blooms are symbolise romantic love. Such is the Vietnamese love for lotus that it was voted as the country’s national flower - for which one of the criteria was that it “must be ubiquitous around Vietnam”, and it would be hard to travel through Vietnam during lotus season without coming across a pond or lake filled with them. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Previously, the lotus pond was the low-lying area, specialising in rice cultivation. In recent years, local people in An Phu commune have moved to growing lotus, bringing about a high level of economic efficiency. Currently, the lotus growing area in the commune reaches nearly 200 hectares. Lotus plants bring high economic benefits because all parts of the plant, such as the flower, leaves, seeds and roots are utilised. For example, the flowers are used for decoration, stamens for scenting tea, roots for preparing salads, soups and steaming with meat, seeds for making sugar coated products and sweeten porridge, seed’s cores being used as a tranquiliser and antipyretic and even leaves being used to wrap Com (green rice flakes). (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Local people in An Phu commune increase their income since taking the advantage of wet fields to grow lotus. Average income is 50 million VND (2,128 USD) per year per hectare. Lotus plants bring high economic benefits because all parts of the plant, such as the flower, leaves, seeds and roots are utilised. For example, the flowers are used for decoration, stamens for scenting tea, roots for preparing salads, soups and steaming with meat, seeds for making sugar coated products and sweeten porridge, seed’s cores being used as a tranquiliser and antipyretic and even leaves being used to wrap Com (green rice flakes). (Photo: VietnamPlus)

In Vietnam, lotus is the national flower. It is known as the flower of the dawn, and for many Vietnamese people, the sight of lotus flowers is the symbol of purity, commitment and optimism for the future. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater and rises and opens again at dawn. Vietnamese people have considered lotus as a symbol of beauty overcoming darkness. Lotus is known as an exquisite flower, symbolises the purity, serenity, commitment and optimism of the future as it is the flower which grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Mr. Luu Tien Hung, an owner of a part of the lotus pond, says “this lotus originated from hundred-year-old ponds in the village is a variety for large flowers, many seeds and few flat seeds.” The lotus flowers are usually used to decorate houses and food, the root can be used in various dishes while its stamen can be used to make tea and the seeds can be used to make desserts or herbal medicines. In Oriental medicine, lotus is a rare remedy and is beneficial for healthcare. Lotus seeds are sweet and neutral, benefiting the spleen and for treating nerve damage. The seed’s core is bitter and used to lower high blood pressure and serves as an antipyretic. Lotus seed-pods are bitter and used to treat symptoms of discharge of blood. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Lotus is An Phu commune is mainly grown for seeds. Lotus seeds are eaten raw, dried or boiled. In Oriental medicine, lotus is a rare remedy and is beneficial for healthcare. Lotus seeds are sweet and neutral, benefiting the spleen and for treating nerve damage. The seed’s core is bitter and used to lower high blood pressure and serves as an antipyretic. Lotus seed-pods are bitter and used to treat symptoms of discharge of blood. The lotus is found throughout Vietnam in the muddy water of lakes and ponds. Lotus is an important ingredient in Vietnamese culture and the flower is often referred to in Vietnamese songs and poems. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

In Vietnam, lotus is the national flower. It is known as the flower of the dawn. Lotus flowers play an important role and special position in Vietnamese spirit. Vietnamese people have considered the lotus as a symbol of beauty overcoming darkness. Lotus is known as an exquisite flower, symbolises the purity, serenity, commitment and optimism of the future as it is the flower which grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. An old chant states: “No other species in the lake can rival lotuses/ Green leaves, white blossoms and yellow pistils/ Yellow pistils, white blossoms and green leaves/ Never tarnished by the dirty mud nearby.” (Photo: VietnamPlus)